Beyoncé dethrones Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga at the top of ‘Best Music Video Ever’

Beyoncé’s song Formation video took first place in a list of 100 music videos rated by Rolling Stone magazine.

The video, released in 2016 and directed by Melina Matsoukas, was ranked as the best music video and topped the list of the “100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time”.

We rank the 100 greatest music videos ever — from Beyoncé to Bowie, "Sledgehammer" to "Sabotage.” https://t.co/QHdwOstgu4

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 30, 2021

The video, according to the magazine, outperformed other popular music videos such as Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Prince’s Kiss, and Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance.

The video Formation of Beyoncé showed several stunning images, including the 39-year-old American singer sitting on top of a submerged police car in devastated New Orleans and a wall with the words “Stop shooting at us”.

Beyoncé : son clip « Formation » élu meilleur clip de tous les temps https://t.co/EyTgDHyKUo pic.twitter.com/tqfYzj05Rh

— ELLE (@ELLEfrance) August 2, 2021

According to director Matsoukas, Beyoncé wanted the video to show “the historical impact of slavery on black love (preventing and disrupting marriages with African Americans) and what it has done to families of color,” as she explained to The New Yorker in 2017.

“I wanted to show that we are black people. We win, we suffer, we drown, we get hit, we dance, we eat, and we’re still here,” she added.

However, critics were quick to categorize the video, and Beyoncé, as “anti-police”.

Beyoncé denied the accusations in an interview with Elle magazine, claiming that anyone who really believed she was “anti-police” was wrong.

She added, “I am an artist and I believe that stronger art is often misunderstood. But anyone who sees my message as anti-police is completely wrong. I have a lot of admiration and respect for officers and families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe.”

A video message from Formation explained during the interview, “But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice,” noting that these are two separate things.

Beyoncé appeared in the list of the “100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time”, twice previously, through the video for the song Single Ladies, which ranked 12, and the video for the song Telephone, in collaboration with Lady Gaga, which ranked number 66.

Source: The New York Post